一、文章
PASSAGE · 点击任意单词可查词典
P1
Why did ancient Chinese emperors call themselves zhen or guaren? Research shows that the word zhen used to be a first-person pronoun. Before the Qin dynasty, it meant "I" or "me" and everyone from farmers to state rulers could use it. The word can be found in books like The Book of Songs.
P2
However, when the state of Qin defeated all the other six states and unified (统一) China, Qinshihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, changed how this word could be used. He made it a rule that zhen could only be used by the emperor himself. Since then, the word has been used only by rulers.
P3
Chinese emperors also called themselves guaren. In ancient China, emperors took themselves as the "Sons of Heaven", and believed they had a "Mandate of Heaven (天命)" to rule. However, if the "Son of Heaven" was found to have poor morals (道德), they would lose the mandate. So, the rulers used the term guaren, or gua zhi ren (寡德之人), meaning "a person who should do better in terms of morality". In this way, they could show their modesty (谦虚). In Chinese culture, people should not talk proudly about their own abilities. Modesty is seen as a virtue. Ancient rulers hoped to win people's hearts by calling themselves guaren.
P4
However, historical records show that guaren lost its popularity after the Tang dynasty. The emperors of the following dynasties used zhen more often.
三、文章精读
INTENSIVE READING · 词性标注 + 句型分析
按词性标注颜色读句子：绿色=动词，粉字=形容词，蓝字=副词，紫字=介词，橙字=连词，带底纹=词形变化。点击生词仍可查词典。
P1 · "朕"的由来
S1Why did ancient Chinese emperors call themselves zhen or guaren?为什么中国古代帝王自称"朕"或"寡人"？
S2Research shows that the word zhen used to be a first-person pronoun.研究表明，"朕"这个词曾经是第一人称代词。
S3Before the Qin dynasty, it meant "I" or "me" and everyone from farmers to state rulers could use it.秦朝之前，它表示"我"，从农民到诸侯人人都能使用。
S4The word can be found in books like the Book of Songs.这个词能在《诗经》等书中找到。
P2 · 秦始皇改变用法
S1However, when the state of Qin defeated all the other six states and unified China, Qinshihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, changed how this word could be used.然而，当秦国击败其他六国统一中国时，中国历史上第一位皇帝秦始皇改变了这个词的用法。
S2He made it a rule that zhen could only be used by the emperor himself.他立下规矩：只有皇帝本人才能使用"朕"。
S3Since then, the word has been used only by rulers.从那时起，这个词只被统治者使用。
P3 · "寡人"的含义
S1Chinese emperors also called themselves guaren.中国皇帝也称自己为"寡人"。
S2In ancient China, emperors took themselves as the "Sons of Heaven", and believed they had a "Mandate of Heaven" to rule.在古代中国，皇帝自视为"天子"，相信自己有统治的"天命"。
S3However, if the "Son of Heaven" was found to have poor morals, they would lose the mandate.然而，如果"天子"被发现道德低下，他们就会失去天命。
S4So, the rulers used the term guaren, or gua zhi ren, meaning "a person who should do better in terms of morality".所以，统治者使用"寡人"一词，即"寡德之人"，意思是"在道德方面应该做得更好的人"。
S5In this way, they could show their modesty.这样，他们就能显示自己的谦虚。
S6In Chinese culture, people should not talk proudly about their own abilities.在中国文化中，人们不应骄傲地谈论自己的能力。
S7Modesty is seen as a virtue.谦虚被视为一种美德。
S8Ancient rulers hoped to win people's hearts by calling themselves guaren.古代统治者希望通过自称"寡人"来赢得民心。
P4 · "寡人"式微
S1However, historical records show that guaren lost its popularity after the Tang dynasty.然而，历史记载显示"寡人"在唐朝之后失去了人气。
S2The emperors of the following dynasties used zhen more often.后来的朝代皇帝更常用"朕"。
四、作文金句仿写
WRITING BOOST · 黑色为框架，灰色底纹为可替换词
把文中的好句子拆成"句型框架"，换上你自己的词，就能写出漂亮的句子。
金句 1
Research shows that the word zhen used to be a first-person pronoun.
Research shows that the word zhen / this city / my grandfather used to be a first-person pronoun / a small village / a teacher.
仿写：Research shows that this city used to be a small village. 研究表明这座城市过去曾是一个小村庄。
适用：介绍某事物过去的样子（used to be）。
金句 2
He made it a rule that zhen could only be used by the emperor himself.
He / My father / Our school made it a rule that zhen could only be used by the emperor / we should get up early / students must wear uniforms.
仿写：My father made it a rule that we should get up early. 我父亲定下规矩：我们应该早起。
适用：介绍某人立下的规则（make it a rule that）。
金句 3
In this way, they could show their modesty.
In this way, they / I / we could show their modesty / improve my English / keep our classroom clean.
仿写：In this way, I could improve my English. 通过这种方式，我提高了英语。
适用：总结方法带来的结果（in this way）。
金句 4
Ancient rulers hoped to win people's hearts by calling themselves guaren.
Ancient rulers / The team / Our class hoped to win people's hearts / the game / the first prize by calling themselves guaren / practising hard / working together.
仿写：The team hoped to win the game by practising hard. 队伍希望通过刻苦训练赢得比赛。
适用：表达通过某种方式达成目标（by doing）。